Menu Plan Monday - 1/30/12

Menu Plan Monday -

Keeping this short today.  Added a few recipes this weekend: one for Honeybell Orange Marmalade and one for Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies. 

Honeybell Orange Marmalade

Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies

Monday - Turkey Tacos (with frozen shredded turkey meat), avocado

Tuesday - Baked Pasta Casserole.  Similar to this one, minus the meat and I will "bake" it in the Crock-pot on low for 2-3 hours.

Wednesday -   Orange Chicken with stir fry veggies.  Made a double batch of the orange glaze from the great Honeybell oranges so I have some for another time!


Thursday - Pizza Night!

Friday - Grilled Fish (weather permitting),veggies, Challah

Weekend - still planning the Super Bowl menu...stay tuned...


Looking for more menu ideas, please visit MPM at orgjunkie.com

Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies

Golden Raisin Biscuit Cookies

I'm trying to catch up on some recipes posts.  I actually made these in the summer and promised to make them again (I did not..oops!)  Anyway, this recipe was for my husband.  He grew up eating these cookies made from the Sunshine company (and now are discontinued).   There are a few recipes with the same name out there, but this recipe (posted on Allrecipes, but also many other sources) is the one I started with to recreate my husband's favorite.  I altered the recipe a bit.  I used vegetable shortening for the oil to get a flakier crust.  Additionally, after brushing the top with the egg, I sprinkled it with sugar.  While the end result was not exact (at least I am told) to the original, it did put a smile on my husband's face and that's a success in my book!  Anyone else remember these cookies?  Have you tried any recipes to recreate an old favorite?

Honeybell Orange Marmalade

Honeybell Orange Marmalade

Recently we received a box of honeybell oranges from Florida (thanks Mom!).  If you have never had these particular oranges they are extremely heavy with juice and very sweet.  I saw this recipe via punk domestics.  I think the oranges this year were particularly large.  The recipe uses 5 oranges to make 3 cups of orange pulp.  I used five oranges and ended up with 5 cups of pulp.  I needed to do a bit of recalculation on the sugar measurement.  I didn't end up adding any extra rind with it (and probably should have).  The result was a very "soft" jam, but very yummy!  I ended up with 6 half-pints full.  The recipe is pretty straight-forward and easy except for the more labor-intensive removal of the zest.   A little taste of sunshine in January!

Menu Plan Monday - 1/23/12

Menu Plan Monday -

Where does the week go?  I really did mean to post more recipes last week.  Clearly, did not happen.  I did make some time during this rainy weekend to do some cross-stitch.  I have two projects that I keep switching between and they both seem to be on the 10-year plan at this point.  I really do miss it.  I'm hoping to work that back in to my daily schedule...somewhere.

Sunday - For all the football watching around here:  Pretzel Dogs

I took a new picture.  Hopefully, this one doesn't look as "done" as the other one.  I may actually go back and revise the recipe a bit.  I baked these just a touch under 12 minutes (more like 11:30).  The pan of extra dough, with regular pretzels, needed the full 12.  Anyway, they were a hit as always.  It's always good when Publix has Hebrew National on sale!  :)

Monday - Meatloaf.  I just realized I need to take a picture of this. (mental note) Oven roasted potato fries, broccoli 

Tuesday - dance night - Crock Pot Baked Ravioli Casserole, crudite.  No picture of that one either...hmmm.

Wednesday - Leftovers.

Thursday - Homemade Pizza (did not make last week, we just ate lasagna leftovers).  Maybe if the weather holds, I'll get outside to grill the pizza...yum!

Friday - Polish Noodles with turkey sausage, Challah

If you are looking for more recipe ideas, please visit MPM at orgjunkie.com

Menu Plan Monday - 1/16/12

Menu Plan Monday -

Long weekend here due to the MLK holiday.  Much different than last year when we were just starting to recover from the "blizzard".  Right now I have two crock-pots going cooking beans (Northern White and Black).  Hoping to make a big batch of veggie chili this week.  The Boca crumbles were on sale at Publix and we stocked up!

Monday - Spinach Lasagna

Tuesday - Beef Tacos (in the crock-pot), avocados, salsa, salad

Wednesday - Chicken Meatballs, quinoa with raisins and almonds, broccoli.  The chicken meatballs I make are similar to this Barefoot Contessa recipe.  I omit the cheeses and use either water of chicken broth for the milk.  If I have any leftover, I can plunk them into some chicken soup later...yum.

Thursday - Homemade Pizza and crudite

Friday - Roasted Chicken and veggies, Challah

Looking for more menu ideas, please visit MPM at orgjunkie.com

Rainbow Fruit Skewers

The colors of the rainbow...with fruit.  Miss D has a celebration at school today.  We're bringing the Rainbow Fruit Skewers, mini muffins, and pink lemonade. 

I saw this idea for the fruit on pinterest.com and pinned it via Prudent Baby and quick- dish.tablespoon.com..here's the link to the full recipe that includes rainbow pancakes to go with the fruit. 

My choices of fruit were:

Red: Strawberries
Orange: Orange Segments from Cuties
Yellow: Pineapple
Green: Green Apple (couldn't find a nice kiwi anywhere!)
Blue: Blueberries
Purple: Grapes

I used 4" bamboo skewers (partly because I couldn't find the 6" ones) so I needed to cut the fruit to small pieces.  I ended up making more because of this so each child could have two, but I think they turned out pretty nice. 

Menu Plan Monday - 1/9/12

Menu Plan Monday -

Well, the cold snap has moved on (for now, that is) and has left us with a mild and rainy weekend.  Enjoying the weather this  week between raindrops  and a light week activity-wise.  The semester will start getting busier from now on (until May).

Sunday - Aunt Babe's Brisket (made about 5 pounds worth).  I will shred and freeze the remaining for BBQ Beef Sandwiches or Shredded Beef Tacos.   Roasted veggies.

Monday - Avocado Chicken Salad and leftover veggies

Tuesday - Pasta and sauce

Wednesday - Fish Tacos

Thursday - Homemade Pizza and Eggplant Parm (from the freezer).

Friday - Chicken (not sure how yet), Matzo Ball Soup (Miss D's request), Challah

For more recipe and menus, please visit MPM at orgjunkie.com

Hot Chocolate on a Stick

Hot Chocolate on a Stick

Hot Chocolate on a Stick -

Foodie With Family posted this recipe for hot chocolate on a stick over a year ago and I've been waiting to make it for gift-giving back in December.  The cocoa base is adapted from a King Arthur Flour recipe (always a good choice, in my opinion) and the marshmallow topper is very similar to the marshmallow recipe I make all of the time (like for school baking projects).

I made the cocoa block and marshmallow recipes in separate 8" x 8" pans.  The pans were lightly greased with cooking spray and then lined with parchment.  I allowed them to set up at room temperature for about a day before slicing into 36 pieces each.  I used lollipop sticks and little gift bags to complete the package.  I made two batches in December and they disappeared quickly.  I need to make one more batch this week for people we missed last month.  I'm kind of hoping there will be a few extra this time.  The picture at the top was actually the only one I tried, but it was very yummy!!!

In case you are wondering what I made for last year's gifts check out Caramel Sauce with Sea Salt!  Now, what to make for next year???

Note:  I forgot to mention that the recipes for marshmallows use the standard unflavored gelatin packs that are in most grocery stores (like Knox).  I order a Kosher gelatin online and use the equivalent amount, 2 Tablespoons, instead of 3 packets.  

Menu Plan Monday - 1/2/12

Menu Plan Monday -

Happy New Year!  Wow, 2012 already?  Last year flew by here and this year is gearing up to be a busy one as well.  One last day of holiday break.  Lots of traveling last month, visiting family and friends and plenty of treats and goodies.  I'm looking forward to getting back on a schedule and eating a bit lighter.  We've been fortunate with mild weather lately, but we're in for a cold snap for the week.  Despite this, I've put some grilled items on the menu, even if it means grilling with a winter coat on!

Monday  - Grilled London Broil, Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges, Asparagus (Miss D's request)

Tuesday - Shredded Turkey Tacos (with leftover turkey), salad and avocado

Wednesday - Leftover London Broil, etc

Thursday - Pizza

Friday - Grilled Chicken, perhaps this recipe for Tequila Lime Chicken or Grilled Honey Glazed Chicken, veggie?, Challah

Grilled Honey Glazed Chicken

Looking for more menu ideas, please visit MPM at orgjunkie.com